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The Xenophobe's Guide
to the Americans
by Stephanie Faul
A guide to understanding the Americans which
dispels or confirms preconceived prejudices with
humour and insight.
The
Xenophobe's Guide to the Americans
is now available on Kindle
CLICK HERE FOR KINDLE
STORE UK
CLICK HERE FOR
KINDLE STORE USA
| Friends without
friendship |
| Americans are
friendly because they just can't help it; they
like to be neighbourly and want to be liked.
However, a wise traveller realises that a few
happy moments with an American do not translate
into a permanent commitment of any kind. Indeed,
permanent commitments are what Americans fear
the most. This is a nation whose fundamental
social relationship is the casual acquaintance.
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| It's not a
'good day' unless it's a 'good hair day' |
| When asked in a survey what
they notice first in a potential mate, the
answer from both men and women was hair. Having
good hair is more important than having a
college education or a happy family. |
| Americans shoot
from the lip |
| American speech is
remarkably straightforward. They tell it as it
is, even when it's not a particularly good idea
to do so. Linguistic subtlety, innuendo, and
irony that other nations find delightful puzzle
the Americans, who take all statements at face
value, weigh them for accuracy, and reject
anything they don't understand. |
| Always aim to
win |
| Winning is central to the
American psyche. As American football coach
Vince Lombardi put it, 'Winning isn't
everything. It's the only thing'. Virtually
every event in American life, from school
graduation to marriage to buying an automobile,
is structured so that one party wins, or at
least comes out looking better than any of the
other participants. |
| An excellent cure for national
chauvinism. This is a book to give to your
solipsistic acquaintances who think the United
States is the centre of the universe. From her
opening observation that Americans are like
adolescents, to her analysis of American
materialism and underlying insecurity and her
samples of American English, the author
maintains a consistent balance between humor and
truth. |
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San Francisco, California
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| This is a great gift to give to
someone coming to America or to a foreigner
living in the US. This little book irreverently
captures what is unique about American life - a
topic that others have struggled with, starting
with de Toqueville in the 1800s. I just wish the
author would now do one just specializing in
Southerners! I have read two other books in this
series - one about the Swiss, one about the
Germans -and they are just as accurate and
funny. These little books take no more than an
hour or two to read. |
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Rome, Georgia
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| This book is an excellent
combination of humour and irreverence. It
accurately captures how a lot of us non-Yanks
view Yanks :-) Non-Yanks will find themselves
rolling on the floor laughing at the incredibly
accurate and witty observations of the author,
most of which they would have made themselves at
some time but unable to compile or put to paper
in such an intelligent and well-written manner.
Yanks should read this concise paperback to
understand how the rest of the world views them.
I'm sure they'll see the humour in the
observations. I own eight of these 'Xenophobe's'
guides and think they're all hilarious. |
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Boston, Massachusetts
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| A humorous and irreverent
overview of the American people, American
customs and other things American. It is short,
and would be a good gift for someone moving to
America. Americans will find it interesting,
amusing, and, for the most part, accurate. |
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Houston, Texas
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| An enlightened new series, good
natured, witty and useful. The Xenophobe's
Guides to different nations deserves a real
cheer. |
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The European
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| Each book is an entertaining
essay on the failings, foibles and good points
of their subjects. Their humour is relaxed and
gentle and it would be a sour, churlish native
of a subject country who would object seriously. |
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The Northern Times
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Nationalism and Identity
Character
Attitudes and Values
Happy Families
Manners and Behaviour
Leisure and Pleasure
Drinking and Eating
Custom and Tradition
Sense of Humour
Culture
Systems
Culture
Systems
Business and Commerce
Government
Language |
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| Author: Stephanie
Faul |
| Format: 96 pages,
pb |
| Published: 01/03/08 |
| Updated: New Edition |
| Price: £4.99 |
| ISBN:
1-906042-19-5 |
| Online eBook. Click on
button below to sample. |
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